Cat And Dog Enrichment For Every ContextA Companion Animal Care Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Animal advocates know that living with companion
animals can be complicated. We may balk at characterizing our companions as
"captives," a term most closely associated with zoos and labs. But as this
paper notes, "it is important to remember that our companion animal species
also deserve to live in environments that enhance their quality of life and
ensure good welfare."

Abstract

Taking care of a cat or a dog is about more than just providing them
food, shelter, and occasional play time or walks. Even if you provide these
essentials, there are important ways that companion animals' living
environments can be enriched.

Recognizing that cats and dogs who live in our homes are in a sense
"captive" - even though this captivity may not be remotely the same as in a
kennel, zoo, or laboratory - means recognizing that these animals have
limits on their opportunities. Enrichment tries to bring back some of these
opportunities to help our companions live healthy, happy, and full lives,
and is best done "in accordance with their natural behavioral needs so as to
increase behavioral choices and encourage species-appropriate behavior."

This article takes a thorough look at how to enrich canine and feline
living environments, with the goal of making their lives more "rewarding and
meaningful."

Specifically, the purpose of enrichment is both to safeguard welfare and
provide a "complex environment" that meets companion animals' physical and
psychological needs. To accomplish this, the researchers note that humans
are the ones that need to adapt their own living situations to make their
companions more comfortable, and many people find themselves "at a loss to
know what is important in terms of environmental enrichment." In this sense,
enrichment boils down to understanding the species-specific needs of both
cats and dogs. The researchers note that this species-specific knowledge is
"of particular importance to cat owners, who have very little in common with
their new pet in terms of social behavior and behavioral requirements." At
the same time, people who live with dogs need better education "regarding
social interactions with dogs and their requirements in terms of play,
exercise, and training."

The researchers outline a range of different ways that both feline and
canine environments can be improved. For cats, they say the essential
principals include enrichment both inside and on the immediate outside of
the home. They note that "cats have a fundamental requirement for a safe
core zone within their environment to eat, sleep, and play." Within that
"core zone" they also need access to "3D space," meaning multiple levels of
space that permit "elevation and hiding."

Cats also need "safe points of entry and exit from the territory," as
well as more nuanced things like privacy (including privacy from other cats)
and the ability to express natural behaviors such as hunting and scratching.
The authors note that "there is a misperception among many cat owners that
their cat needs a feline companion to ensure good welfare," but that
co-habitation should be done with care because "inappropriate introductions
of unfamiliar cats can cause significant stress, particularly if individuals
lack appropriate intraspecific socialization."

The authors note that the enrichment process is "very different" for dogs
and, specifically, "the structure and layout of the physical environment is
relatively less significant than the social environment." They suggest that
physical and mental stimulation be delivered in ways that show an
"understanding of dog communication and body language, so that they can
accurately interpret signs of stress, relaxation, and pleasure in their
dogs."

patial requirements vary based on the size, breed, and age of the dog,
and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Still, dogs should be given "as
large an area as possible" and all enrichment should be done with an eye
towards providing them with choices. "Dogs that are appropriately socialized
to humans, other dogs, and other species should be given ample daily
opportunities to interact," they say. "Social enrichment is a necessity, not
a luxury." Again, this can vary from dog to dog based on a number of
factors, but the basic building blocks are mental stimulation via play,
freedom from fear, and proper food and feeding opportunities (which can
include allowing them to explore for food, as well as "eating at the same
time as the family ... provided that there are no coexisting issues over
food resource guarding").

Animal advocates know that living with companion animals can be
complicated. We may balk at characterizing our companions as "captives," a
term most closely associated with zoos and labs. But as this paper notes,
"it is important to remember that our companion animal species also deserve
to live in environments that enhance their quality of life and ensure good
welfare." Such a conclusion is a simple one, but it's worth a refresher
course. For advocates who are intrigued by the various practical bits of
advice in the article, it goes much deeper into specifics and also talks
about the types of enrichment that are best for kennel and laboratory
environments. In any context, though, the principles of enrichment are the
same: "ensuring that animals have freedom from fear and distress and freedom
to express their natural behavior." The article is full of good advice for
people living with cats and dogs in their homes.

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